Body Mechanics

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    Mechanisms Of The Human Body

    Raghad Muhyeddin

    This studio focuses on understanding how the human body performs everyday movements through simple mechanical models. We will explore actions like blinking, swallowing, breathing, and reflexes, and recreate them using basic, hands-on materials.


    • Learn how the body performs natural movements

    • Understand the role of muscles, joints, and tendons

    • Translate biological actions into simple mechanical systems

    • Appreciate the complexity of the human body’s design

      Tools & Materials:

      • Cardboard, wooden sticks, foam, wire

      • Strings, rubber bands, springs, pulleys

      • Hinges, levers, and simple crafting tools


    Concept Thesis

    Sketching + Concept

    Thesis

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    Prompt 

    You will generate initial ideas about their concept in the form of sketches, collaboratively writing a project thesis statement and developing a project name. A project thesis is an important step in starting a collaborative partner project. We will use this time to combine ideas and arrive at the conceptual directions of our project.

    Instructions 

    1. Settle on 2-3 concepts that encompasses your project design and sketch multiple drawings of each concept.
    2. Share your sketches with the people you are sharing the puzzle with. Give each other feedback and suggest ways you might connect each piece together.
    3. Go through the slides and learn about creating a project thesis. Then, create a project thesis for each idea you might have.
    4. Then, start brainstorming ways to name your different project ideas. Use the tips from the slides to help you decide.
    5. Compile your sketches with their project thesis and titles on a slide show. Then, share with your class.

    Deliverables

    At the end of this activity, you will have sketches of your different project ideas, a project name and a draft of a project concept thesis sentence. Combine these into a single post and add it to the Responses tab above. 

    Brainstorming

    Brainstorming

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    Prompt

    The goal of brainstorming is to create a generative list of ideas for potential projects you can continue exploring. Our mission in this studio is to construct an innovative form of transport that functions with neighboring pieces to forge a cohesive urban tapestry. Think specifically about what kind of mechanisms you want to deploy in your piece of the puzzle and what is inspiring your transportation device.

    You will imagine the systems and infrastructure that will change the way people move and then design new modes of transportation based on your wildest imagination. 

    Duration: ~2 hrs

    Instructions

    Review the Brainstorming deck below to get started with the brainstorming process, and think back to all of your discussions, precedent analysis, and field research thus far. 

    Part 1:  Individual Brainstorm

    Individually, come up with 10 (or more!) ideas for futuristic methods of transit. Explore the precedent research you've done to inspire ideas. Consider transportation for individuals (or animals!). Think outside of the box. This is the time to engage in wild ideas!

    Try to think of 3 ideas for each of the following categories: 

    • Nature/Plants
    • Animals
    • A game/playful idea 
    • Nature

    Part 2: Partner Brainstorm

    The initial list from Part 1 is going to seed the rest of your brainstorming process and facilitate the idea-generation process. 

    Your task is to narrow your list down to 5 project ideas to share with a partner. Let your partner know which of their ideas you think are particularly exciting. Feel free to come up with a few new ideas once you hear about your partner's ideas. Maybe something new occurs to you now. Run with it! 

    After you rapidly share with one another,  sketch 2-3 of your favorite ideas. Remember to add which mechanisms you would like to add to your designs and how you wish to connect your transportation puzzle to someone else's.

    Part 3: Whiteboard Brainstorm!

    Now it's your time to shine. Share 2-3 of your favorite ideas with the class. Your teacher will facilitate a group discussion around ideas using the whiteboard. They will help to categorize ideas in clusters based on similarity. 

    Note: At this stage of the design process, brainstorming project ideas are shared amongst everyone - no matter who had the idea initially. 

    Deliverable

    At the end of the Collective Brainstorming exercise, you will inform your teacher of three ideas you would be most excited to pursue. 

    Note: Your teachers will create the puzzle of which student fits next to who. Moving forward, you will be working alongside those who are building their transportation puzzle piece next to yours. Even though your piece is yours, remember to always consult with those that will surround you so that the environment works cohesively.